Project description
High hopes for low-cost sensor wireless networks
The future of meteorological and climate research lies in low-cost sensor (LCS) technologies. Notable applications include model or emissions validation and spatial variability in pollution. In this context, the EU-funded PIONEER project will work to establish an LCS wireless sensor network (LCS-WSN) to assess the effectiveness of low-cost technologies in the study of transboundary transport phenomena. Its main target is a highly reliable LCS-WSN to be used by scientists as well as citizen engineers in remote areas and harsh environments. The project results will benefit efforts to achieve quantitative, reproducible measurements, guidelines for best practice, high data quality and accuracy, and compatibility of data.
Objective
Atmospheric observatories are currently the primary infrastructure for the state-of-the-art meteorological and climate research. However, the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO-GAW) states in their 2018 final report that the fate of the next generation of monitoring stations will be dramatically modified by the breakthroughs of new low-cost sensors (LCSs) technologies. The rapid development and continuous improvement of low-cost technology are demonstrating notable applications and today “LCSs are beginning to play a role in areas such as model or emissions validation and spatial variability in pollution” in support the state-of-the-art instrumentations and established networks. New upcoming atmospheric applications, services and support in citizen inclusion in earth monitoring are pushing European Union (EU) in funding scientific communities, companies, governments and international bodies such as the Joint Commercial Advisory Group (JCAG) in developing and assessing low-cost technology, thus making the introduction of basic and applied research addressing quantitative, reproducible measurements, guidelines for best practice, high data quality and accuracy, compatibility of data imperative. Considering these crucial challenges, aim of the project is to establish a low-cost sensors wireless sensor network (LCS-WSN) to assess the effectiveness of low-cost technologies in the study of transboundary transport phenomena. Given its highly relevance for the Earth’s climate, ecosystems, and human health as stated by the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project, primary endeavor will be directed towards the study of Ozone. Main target is to develop a highly reliable LCS-WSN to be used by scientists as well as citizen engineers in remote areas and harsh environments, where the needs of reliable spatial data to model the transboundary transport phenomena and climate change effects is ever more decisive.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorssmart sensors
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technology
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
00185 Roma
Italy